Pregnancy in One Dress (30 weeks)

I can't believe I am 30 weeks already! Only 10 weeks left. Tops! Probably less. My children tend to take after me when it comes to patience. Mr. Grey was 3 days early and Lumps was 3 weeks early so I wouldn't be shocked if this kid arrived early as well.  Here I am! 30 weeks and the dress still fits, though I must say I am quite looking forward to getting my body back. I am feeling like quite the lard ass at the moment. I know I'm not, last I checked (2 weeks ago) I had only gained 14lbs... and that was after losing 7lbs at the beginning of this all. So... I shouldn't feel this fat but I do... 

I have another ultrasound scheduled for Friday. Normally my midwives only give 2 but remember that part back there where I said Lumps was 3 weeks early? Well that was because of some bit of random that I never knew could even happen! Did you know placenta's can die during the pregnancy!!!??? They are supposed to last for the full 40 weeks of pregnancy but sometimes they don't! Mine was at the point of needing hospice, it wasn't keeping up with all of its jobs anymore, and because of that my amniotic fluid level was low. I was set up for routine NST's (nonstress test) to monitor me and the baby and make sure everything was fine and if things got worse they would have had to induce me! The day they told me that I had a little conversation with Lumps right before bed that night.

 "Listen, I know it's not time yet but I don't want to be induced. The risks of needing an emergency c-section when you are induced are a little high for my liking so if you could come out as soon as you are developed enough to survive without medical assistance that would be great!"
My water broke at 2am! He was a very well behaved baby. Listening to his Mother already!

So! I get to see Baby Hulk again! I am pretty excited about that! I may have to do a special post for that if they give me any good pictures! I hope I will see you again in 2 weeks! It is pretty hard getting this done! The weekends we spend getting the house ready for this baby and then weekdays I've gotta get kids to school! I won't stop trying to get these posts up though!

A Lovely Lie: Hair Dying Tutorial For Bright Colours

I get asked about my hair a lot. Especially since it is blue. For people who have dyed their hair funky colours before and have tried blue you know it does not fade well. It fades faster and not as gracefully as other colours You end up looking gross and splotchy like you went swimming in a porta potty. I get asked so often now that I've decided this post is necessary. This past week everyone seems to be thinking about their hair and wanting to change it and so many people keep asking me how I dye my hair and how I get it to stay so bright. Must be that fall is upon us, maybe because the leaves are changing their colours? I know the feeling though. I am dying for a new colour and cut right now too!

Since I have been dying my hair for 12 years now I have had plenty of time to research and experiment with different methods and different dyes and here is what I have come up with. This is my favorite method, albeit ridiculous and extensive.

Step 1: Bleach (aka : Lightener) 

 These are my best bleach friends. You can go for the Quick Blue tub if you are ready to make a habit out of it. If you are still not sure just grab the packet or 2 or more depending on what you are doing. Whole head you may as well go for the tub and find a buddy to split the cost with you. Nobody wants to dye alone!  Don't forget a bottle of the matching Oreor Creme developer! I think 20 volume is a good one to stick with, it is less damaging to the hair and better for those who are doing this at home and may not have the super speedily skilled hands of a professional. This lightener really is blue! It has a built in toner to help get rid of those brassy tones as it lightens. I still needed a toner the time I went blonde but for dying fun colours this is the stuff!

Follow the instructions on the back for applying. Don't forget gloves! Rinse as much of the bleach as you can out and then for shampoo go to step 2!



 Step 2: Baking Soda











Baking soda has been known to neutralize bleach. It has a low ph and lessens the acidity of chemical substances like bleach easily.  Using an alkaline substance like baking soda before dying your hair will also open the cuticle of your hair allowing the dye to penetrate deeply into the shaft (...hahaha... penetrate... shaft... *snicker snicker*). Neutralize that horrible bleach and prep your hair to absorb that awesome colour!

Mix 1-2Tbsp of baking soda with a mild shampoo (I sometimes just use my kids baby shampoo or my Dr. Bronner's it will still be fine if you only have your regular shampoo) rinse and then on to the next step.

Step 3: Dye

My #1 favorite dye of all times is Punky Colour by Jerome Russell it smells grapey fantastic. Second best of all the many dyes I have tried would have to be Special Effects. It is actually probably just as good as Punky, I am just very loyal to the wonderful smelling dye that has seen me through dark and otherwise dreary times.

Your hair has to be dry to apply either of these dyes so go ahead and dry it or if you have no plans sit down and take a break and let your hair dry on it's own, you have much more work ahead of you! I must add now since I just received a text from my sister while working on this post that YES dry hair really is necessary. It doesn't have to be bone dry but try to get it as dry as possible. Think of your hair like a sponge. A super wet sponge isn't going to help you clean up a spill very well. If it is already pretty soaked with water it will only be able to absorb a little of the mess. Just like your hair, if your hair is already wet it wont' be able to absorb as much of the dye.

Try to ignore the fact that your hair feels gross like straw because you just traumatized it with bleach and you didn't even get to condition it!!! When your hair is dry put on your gloves and start applying your dye! Make sure you are totally covered and don't forget the baby hairs!

Step 4: Bag Lady in Heat

 

Cover your head with a shower cap... or if you are me a Target shopping bag (really that should be added to the list of ways to recycle your bag)! I find Target bags are slightly more durable and less likely to have holes in them or to melt to your head when you apply heat... which is what you do after you have wrapped your dye saturated head in your bag Aunt Jemima style. Take your hair dryer, or if you are super awesome like I wish I were sit under a hooded dryer and apply heat to your hair for 15-20 minutes.

Step 5: Go to Sleep (this step is entirely optional)
These dyes are like putting a conditioning mask on your hair. They really help your hair feel better after the bleach and they don't have any harsh chemicals in them so you can leave them in as long as you want... which is why I sleep in mine! I usually start this whole process a little before dinner (cook while bleach is working it's magic, eat while hair is drying) that way by the time I am done with the heat processing I just throw a towel over my pillow just in case the bag slides up a bit or something and go to sleep! If you are like Stitches and the thought of sleeping with dye in your hair freaks you out then just try to start the process earlier so you can leave the dye on as long as possible. Seriously though, for a LONG time. I mean I am getting around 8 hours of sleep and then in the morning I still have to get my boys breakfast and stuff before I can jump in the shower... which brings us to step 6!

Step 6: Vinegar Rinse




You know how on the package of Easter egg dye it tells you to use vinegar for more vibrant colours? Well I don't really know why this one works but I feel like it is the same deal. Okay so I really do know why it works but I like to think it is for the same reason as the Easter egg dye but I really don't know why they tell you to do that... and why doesn't it work for the pink dye?! Anyways! Why this works! Remember the whole ph thing with the alkeline baking soda? The baking soda opens the hair's cuticle so what do you think the acidic vinegar does!? Yup! You got it! It closes the cuticle sealing in the colour!

Rinse out as much of the dye as you can using just water. If you slept in it you may have to use shampoo if you have been standing there for 20 minutes and the water running off of you is still super bright. When the water runs clear rinse your hair in white vinegar. Watch out for cuts and stuff! It burns! I had a cold the last time I did it and it got up my nose and burned soooooo bad!!!! Keep your eyes squeezed shut as if your life depends on it! I don't even want to know what that would feel like! So! Get your hair saturated in that business and then rinse it out!

Step 7: Clear Coat (optional)


This is the only brand we have tried but there are lots of different clear coats you can buy at Sally's Beauty Supply. I've only done this a couple of times I'm actually still not sure about it but Buttons and I have both tried it and she says it really helps her with staining things purple after she has dyed her hair. She has to have a black pillow case and only wear dark shirts after we dye her hair or she leaves purple stains on everything! I don't have as much of a problem with that with my blue unless I put my black people hair stuff on and it is all greasy and even then this stuff doesn't help. I started using this the same time I started doing the baking soda and vinegar thing so I'm not sure how much it really changes things but for Buttons and her white girl hair it really does seem to help keep her from turning the world into a more purply place.

Follow the directions on the back of the bottle and that's it! Condition, dry, style. You have super fun hair now!  Go show it off! Unless you did a really shitty job.... then shame on you! You should have really fun hair now!!!

PS: If I didn't cover something you have a question about please leave a comment! I'll tell you what I can!

Pregnancy in One Dress (26weeks)

 I know, I know! I'm sorry! I know I keep missing posts but I was sick for like a month, I still haven't gotten all the junk out but I refuse to miss another week! I took a picture anyways because I hadn't taken one since my 21 weeks photo and I didn't want to miss a big milestone. At 24 weeks the baby is considered viable. This means baby has about a 50% chance of surviving outside of the womb at this stage of gestation. Doctors will do what they can to ensure the baby will survive if born prematurely.

 

(24 weeks, sick,in my pajama, and reduced to mouth breathing!)

On to happier times when I can function and don't have to write and act out everything because my voice has left me. I may not still be 100% but it is better than where I was!

 Last week included a bit of craziness for me! I had a day full of super persistent braxton hicks (practice contractions) and when I finally mentioned it to the ladies in my pregnancy group they all told me to call the consulting nurse line. They never tell anyone to call so I figured it might be a good idea even though I felt otherwise fine and really had no fear anything was wrong. Well I called, and the nurse wanted me to go to Labour and Delivery!!! I was totally shocked! Okay... call me vain but my main concern was that I hadn't shaved since I got sick and you know I am going to have to get naked in there! I didn't have time to fix it either! The consulting nurse had already called the hospital to let them know I was on my way in and I had already told her it would only take me about 15 minutes to get there! So... I brushed my teeth. It's the least I could do right! I may have out of control bear legs but I could have fresh breath at least!

I was told to wait in the ER until someone from L&D came and wheeled me (because pregnant ladies are not allowed to walk) back to where I needed to be. So there I sat all grossed out by the toddler with snot dripping down his face and the woman who sounded like she was about to cough up a lung. I held my breath every time anyone walked by me. I did NOT want to get sick again!!! I finally got  wheeled back, peed in a cup bared my bear legs in a hideous hospital gown that did NOT cover my ass and lay in a room for 2 hours so they could monitor me and the baby. We were fine! I got told to drink more and that I wasn't drinking enough. For me it was still early in the evening and had already had 40oz so far and I think I drink the most at the end of the day anyways. I just hadn't gotten there yet. I filled up my 24oz water bottle and then had to go to the hospital! I didn't have a chance to drink it! I don't think I was dehydrated... besides couldn't they have told that from my cup of pee!? No further incidents to report though!

 Here we are at 26 weeks! In the wrong place with a not so fun and very busy chalkboard. My photographer had to be Darling Husband and we were in a hurry to take the current baby (he will always be my baby) to his first day of preschool!

Baby Hulk's (have a mentioned that is what I am calling this ridiculously strong fetus?) ears have developed enough to be able to hear Darling Husbands voice! Not that this has stopped him from talking to my stomach before but now baby can actually hear him! I have an appointment with my favorite midwife later today! I can't wait to see her!

I hope I will be able to get back on track now and back to my Monday posting as well like I keep saying is going to be the day for these pregnancy updates! Sorry for the hold up! Sorry my baby has hijacked my already dysfunctional immune system! See you in 2 weeks!!!!

I'm Not Erich Hagen...

Oh my goodness best sleeping conversation I have EVER gotten out of him!!! I kept asking questions and he kept responding! 

It started as most of these things start. I was in bed reading a lovely story recommended by a friend and...

Sleeping Russell says:

I'll get the bottom half and you get the top, that way it will be easier okay?
I ignored him at first thinking he would just go back to sleep but he repeated himself. 
"What?"  I finally asked, curious to see where this would go.
"I'll get the top you get the bottom." he repeated.
"Of what?"
"Of your car" he replied.
"What car?" I asked. I drive a big Ford Flex and it doesn't come apart, there are no halves or anything so how was this supposed to work?
"Your race car" He replied. .... Oooohhh.. that explains it....
"I don't have a race car" I said.
Yeah you do" He said. I was intrigued! I wonder what kind of race car I get to have in his dreams!
"I do?" I asked "What colour is it." I'm all about colour I was already imagining since it is his dream it must be a 240. I was hoping for pink and turquoise.
"Yellow and green" he said.
"Yellow and green?" I asked disappointed now realising he wasn't even dreaming about my race car.
"Uh huh" he confirmed
"So.... am I Erich Hagen?" I asked. He didn't hear me.
"Huh?" He questioned
"Do you think I'm Erich?!" I asked again.
"Uh Yeah!" he said as if I were the idiot.
"But I'm a girl!" I said as I began wondering if I have a man voice.
"Okay" he replied before rolling over and going back to sleep.

(not my race car JZ-Photography)

Sigh. I am so disappointed.

Better Late than Never, Adventures Involving Fisticuffs and Hair Ties in the Face.

Okay so I have a horrible cold and I am almost 6 months pregnant so I didn't really get this one all down. It is a few days late and I was in the middle of a really good book when it happened soooo... yeah... but it's here now!

So the other night as I was reading...

Russell had been asleep for nearly and hour. My back was to him and I hear him jerk up in the bed and he says "Put up your dukes!" Well I turn around and he is doing this.

Yup! He was ready to fight me right there in bed! I jerked back not sure if he was having a playful dream or what. He had bitten me in his sleep in my first pregnancy so I am a little wary of his sleeping shenanigans while pregnant now.

 I yelled at him, I do that in the hopes I will scare him awake and it will be over fast, "Stop that! Lay down and go back to sleep!"

He looked at me so sadly as if I had just crushed his hopes and dreams and said "But I was preparing to engage in fisticuffs."

"No, you are sleeping now lay down!" I replied and that was that, thank goodness! 

...Until about an hour later.

I have my back to him again still reading my book and all of a sudden he reaches across me and puts a hair tie in my face, so close I go cross eyed trying to see what the hell it is and he says almost accusingly "What is this!?" 

I was kind of angry at this point. I was trying to read and this was the second time he interrupted me! 

"I don't know!" I yell, "Go back to sleep!"

"What is it?" he asks again.

"Shut up and lay back down! Go to sleep!"

"I was asleep! Why did you wake me up!?" he yells back at me angrily

I was like what in the world!? "I didn't wake you up! You woke up and were sticking crap in my face and asking me what is was!?"

"No! You woke me up!" He yells again.

"Whatever Russell, I'm trying to read I did not wake you up! Shut up and go back to sleep!"

And he did. And I gave up trying to read and went to sleep myself.

Pregnancy in One Dress (20+1 weeks)

Failure again! There was soooo much going on last week that we never got around to my 20 week post and it is so important! For those of you who are mathtarded like I am, 20 weeks is the halfway mark! I am half way through this pregnancy! 

(Since this post is a week late, baby (at 21 weeks) weighs around 11oz, and is about the size of a large banana)

So much happened at 20 weeks too! It became undeniable that I was pregnant. No more of the is she fat bloated or pregnant business. I am totally pregnant!
I felt baby hiccups for the  first time. So did Lumps. He was laying in the bed with me his little hand on my belly feeling baby move and I said "I think baby has the hiccups!" He looked concerned and then said to me in a very serious voice "baby needs to drink water" he then grabbed my water bottle, handed it to me and said "here you drink this". I swear, this is the sweetest smartest 3 year old ever. Not only did he want to help baby get rid of the hiccups but he knows water will fix that and that baby eats what I eat (I think he got that one from the movie Ponyo) it only makes sense that I be the one to drink the water!

I had my 20wk ultrasound July 31st. I don't have my next appointment until the 13th so I don't know exactly how that went but the ultrasound tech didn't say or do anything to make me worried. Do you want to see!? This is my baby!

We had the tech write down the sex of the baby on a piece of paper and sent it to one of my best friends all the way back in NC where I'm from! So WE don't even know what we are having!!! 

She is a pretty awesome seamstress when it comes to baby clothes and best of all cloth diapers! She didn't want everything to end up gender neutral but still wanted to get it all to me before baby was here so once she is done, some things will be put in a special "do not open until 12/17" bag and I will get to ooh and aah over the rest of the cute baby things! I am super excited!

So what do you think!? Is it a boy or a girl!?

Pregnancy in One Dress (18 weeks)

I totally missed out on 16 weeks! There was quite a bit of crazy happening like Buttons becoming an auntie! And since Buttons is my photographer and owner of the chalkboard, we just had to skip it! Which kinda stinks because 16 weeks is when I first felt this baby move! And let me just say this kid is strong! Even my Darling Husband was able to feel it! I had my 18 week check up yesterday and my midwife looked skeptical of my tales of this strong baby. I think she just has a negative outlook on things anyways though. Did I mention that she told me not to even hope for a girl since I already have 2 boys!? I swear if this kid has a vagina I hope she is the one who delivers so I can do an in-yo-face dance. 

18 weeks!!! I can't believe it is going this fast! Okay! Truth moment... I should stop using so many exclamation marks because for some reason, I'm really not that excited... which is probably why things seem to be flying for me. I am feeling kind of apathetic about it all right now. I have no interest in thinking of baby names. I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. I don't get super excited when baby moves. I don't think you could tell I feel this way without me actually telling you because I talk about my pregnancy a lot and I try to get friends and family to feel the baby move (since it seems to only perform for me and Russell), I take lots of pictures and look at baby stuff online but I do all that to try to make myself excited about it, I take pictures because I am worried I will regret it if I don't. Maybe it's because we aren't finding out the sex, or maybe I am just overwhelmed with the kids I have. I am certain when this baby is in my arms I will fall completely in love. But for now, that's it the honest truth... No lovely lies, no exclamation marks.

On the up side!!! My baby is the size of a pickle and I DO like pickles.... since being pregnant that is.. to tell you the truth I didn't really like them before unless it was with something but never before have I enjoyed eating lone pickles. Is it wrong that I was eating a pickle during this week's photoshoot?

(18 weeks baby's bones are hardening so I can feel lots of kicks!)